Aviation Technology
Article | July 26, 2022
Airplane travel is one of the most convenient means of transportation. Consequently, air travel is growing, and aircraft need to be more efficient. Furthermore, in the aftermath of the pandemic, the aviation industry appears to be committed to ensuring a sustainable airflight future. So, for this, aircraft need to be more efficient in production costs and fuel consumption.
An aircraft design depends on three of the most critical aspects. The first is the factor of reliability. Aviation is the only industry where it is impossible to overlook, rectify, or investigate a failed flight mechanism on the spot. The second factor is the need to minimize the weight and volume of its components to withstand load and fluctuating temperatures. And, the third factor is that it shows extreme concern from an environmental perspective. Temperatures on the ground can reach 60 °C and even -80 °C in the stratosphere, with supersonic aircraft reaching temperatures of over 200 °C.
As a result of these factors, the aircraft lubrication system and its requirements are critical. From an economic perspective, servicing and maintenance are a significant part of airlines' expenses after the purchase. In addition, the replacement of parts can cause airplanes to remain grounded for an extended period. Such circumstances can lead to a loss of time and money simultaneously.
From a safety aspect, failures at every level should be avoided. Failures like the shutdown of engines or breakage of engine parts can lead to aircraft failures or even crashes. So, by knowing all these issues around air travel, you can easily understand the interest in aircraft engine oil.
An Innovative Lubrication System for Aircraft Engine
Aircraft turbines revolve at up to 18,000 rpm (revolutions per minute). Due to this, internal temperatures can rise compared to the ambient temperature outside. So, aviation engines need an efficient oil-based lubricant to less pollute the environment and sustain long-distance air travel.
Recently, researchers in the EU-funded ELUBSYS project developed a novel way to use specified aircraft engine oil to promote efficiency and reliability. For this, SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is in high demand. Moreover, the project's innovative oil production will also help reduce an airline’s operating and maintenance costs. In this way, Europe’s aircraft manufacturers are way ahead in supporting future aircraft engine development.
“Aircraft engine turbines rotate at a very high speed with the help of the classic rubberized oil-seals used in the aircraft engine. The extremes of temperature and friction involved would destroy them. Yet aircraft engines need to stay lubricated.”
-Vincent Thomas of Techspace Aero in Belgium
Apart from this, the piston engine looks promising for the aviation piston engine industry. However, it seems like a piston engine holds an optimistic future in fuel economy. Now, with the inclusion of piston engines, there is more importance to using piston engine oil in the lubrication system for an aircraft engine.
So, how piston engine will be the game-changer for aircraft?
Piston Engine—A Game-Changer in Fuel Economy
Numerous aviation firms are developing a new type of internal combustion engine. Such engines promise a notable boost in fuel economy while also plummeting greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, start-ups like EcoMotors, Achates Power, and Pinnacle Engines are building variations on piston engines with the help of specific piston engine oil.
The engines serve as combustion chambers where fuel is ignited. That makes engines lighter in weight and faster in their operations with greater power density. In this way, piston engines result in less energy waste and thus operate more efficiently.
“The technology is worthwhile. However, it is a completely different concept compared to conventional engines,”
- Dean Tomazic, Vice President of FEV in Auburn.
There are more success stories from the aviation piston engine industry. These stories predict that, indeed, aviation is going through a significant transformation.
Another significant achievement comes from Pinnacle, based in San Carlos, Calif. It is developing a four-stroke, gasoline opposed-piston engine. The company’s founder, Monty Cleeves, invented a sleeve valve that ensures energy is used for propulsion instead of getting wasted after converting into heat.
Functions of the Lubrication System for Aircraft Engine Oils
What are the significant functions of lubricants in aviation oils and engines?
It is the function that realizes the importance of things. Isn’t it? So, to realize the importance of aircraft engine oils, it’s crucial to show the potential of the aircraft lubrication systems.
1 Friction and Wear Reduction
Lubricants reduce friction and wear in an aviation engine. The aircraft lubrication system deals with cooling, sealing, clearing, and fighting corrosion and rust in the engine.
Airplanes that are used seldom need the thorough protection from rust and corrosion that good aviation oils can provide. Also, frequently flying airplanes need lubricants for smooth engine operations and functions to avoid failures.
2 Acts as a Cooling Agent
But it is critical to use good aviation oils as lubricants. Oil is a heat-transform medium. Thus, a suitable oil should be used so that lubricants can keep the engine cool and smooth.
3 A life Saver of Aircraft Engines
Lubricants help in extending the life span of an aircraft engine. If an aircraft uses good aviation oil, for example, SAF, biofuels, and more, then there are fewer chances of any engine repairs. In this case, piston engines are the best fit for aircraft with high demand. Piston engines use highly lubricant piston engine oils, which increase the longevity of aviation engines.
Let’s look at some key takeaways from the market study of aircraft engine oil.
Aircraft Engine Oil: Key Takeaways from its Market Study
Commercial planes and business jets will likely witness high aircraft lubricant oil sales.
According to IATA, mineral oil demand is expected to rise by 25% by 2030.
Bio-based oils will dominate the aviation industry in response to soaring environmental concerns.
Maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) activities will emerge as crucial parts of aviation to drive the global aviation lubricant market.
Lastly, what’s understood is that aircraft engine oil is the engine's lifeblood. Thus, the engine must function efficiently to encompass the length between overhauls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does engine oil do in an aircraft?
Engine oil functions as a coolant. Up to 40% of an aircraft’s cooling comes from engine oil. Oil creates a seal between the piston rings, which reduces wear and friction andprovides better compression with increased fuel efficiency.
How is the engine oil lubricated?
Engine oil is lubricated with seals using air, which holds back the oil. Air and oil need to be separated. The air eventually vents out in the form of heat. That is why good oil is necessary for aircraft for lubrication.
What are the essential functions of engine oil?
The essential functions of engine oil are:
Minimizes friction and reduce wear
Cleans the engine
Transfers heat
Prevents corrosion
Forms a seal
Cools the engine parts
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Air Transport
Article | July 15, 2022
NASA is known for developing and launching spacecraft that have a significant environmental impact. However, the space agency is fully on board with the net-zero movement. NASA supports the White House's Aviation Climate Action Plan. It is helping fund several aviation projects that aim to reduce the aviation industry’s damage to the environment.
NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Program
NASA focuses on technologies for single-aisle aircraft, which are the powerhouses of many airline fleets and account for nearly half of global aviation emissions. NASA's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) project aims to reduce carbon emissions and keep the US competitive in the design of single-aisle commercial airliners, which are in high demand.
"Since its creation, NASA has worked with industry to develop and implement innovative aeronautics technology and has shared it with the world," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Now, with this ambitious new project, we're again joining with US industry to usher in a new era of cutting-edge improvements that will make the global aviation industry cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable."
NASA Wants to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Commercial Aircraft
The program’s goal is to build, test, and fly a large-scale demonstrator. NASA hopes to find a business partner for a Funded Space Act Agreement with its Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, by the beginning of 2023.
The agreement would draw on private-industry knowledge and experience, with an awardee developing a suggested technical plan and committing considerable cash to the project. Under this agreement, NASA would not purchase an aircraft or any other hardware for its missions. The mission of NASA is to develop new and innovative technologies and capabilities.
NASA will collect data on the ground and in the air. Agency and industry teams can use it to test the airframe configuration and related technologies.
Moving Away From Space
NASA's technologies are typically cutting-edge. However, as with many high-end items, the benefits and applications frequently filter down to the masses. NASA's specialized technology and research frequently has civil aviation applications. It's interesting to see how NASA seems to be moving away from space and going after planes that fly closer to Earth.
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Defense and Space
Article | June 8, 2022
DataBridge recently released a new market research analysis on AI in aviation, and the findings are promising. The aviation industry has relied on artificial intelligence (AI) for years. The technology has assisted pilots through machine learning algorithms to collect flight data about altitudes, air traffic management, weather, and route distance. It has enabled them to optimize fuel usage and reduce fuel costs. And now, it is going further.
AI has been cascading into other areas of aviation. Here are some trends to note from the “Global Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Market” study.
Benefitting Ground Operations
AI is extensively used in real-time support systems and air traffic control. From automated baggage check-in to facial recognition, it is powering several ground operations. These functions contribute heavily to maximizing resources, reducing labor costs, and enhancing seamlessness across different processes.
Improving Performance and Processes with Machine Learning (ML)
The emergence of AI in aviation is thanks to a surge of capital investments by key aviation players. Cloud computing is being used by many organizations as a way to consolidate processes and deal with complexity better.
Impacting How Planes will be Piloted
AI will considerably impact the future of piloting as we know it. Building on Airbus’ first ever takeoff, landing and taxi using vision-based AI in 2020, prominent aerospace tech firms continue to work on self-piloting planes or passenger autonomous aerial vehicles (AV) that will employ AI-powered intelligent navigation to fly.
Improving Efficiency and Accuracy for Manual Processes
According to aviation experts, ML digital assistants are able to process massive volumes of historical data in order to support ground staff and pilots alike. With AI’s capabilities of enabling elusive insights into patterns and complexities of data, the technology is considered ideal for aviation, where there is no room for errors.
The Path Ahead
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of new technologies in pushing the envelope and innovating solutions. The evolution of technology will only propel the adoption of AI further into the aviation industry. With multiple use cases and brilliant results from the use of AI, the aviation industry is all set for a digital transformation fuelled by data, machine learning and precision
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Business Aviation
Article | May 12, 2021
Each year airlines begin new sustainability initiatives, experiment with biofuels, and offset their carbon emissions on selected flights; yet, sustainability should not only be a topic of discussion when an aircraft is in the air but also when it’s on the ground.
In just one year, a Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A330, and A350, burn an extra 265,000 litres of fuel due to the 1% increase in drag. As a result, a full year’s operations of such an aircraft costs US$77,600 more than during the previous year. A dirty aircraft exterior is full of microscopic patches of dust and mud that impact the airliner’s operational efficiency by creating turbulent airflow across the whole fuselage. While the problem of additional drag is not new, there are no solutions to combat it other than performing regular cleaning of the aircraft’s exterior.
Reducing drag – through cleaning – on aircraft fuselage, wings, engine cowlings, and stabilizer brings another challenge; how to remain sustainable while performing the exterior cleaning process? A popular, yet wasteful pressurized water cleaning technique requires more than 11,300 litres of water to clean one Airbus A380 aircraft and more than 9,500 litres to clean a Boeing 777. Traditionally, aircraft are cleaned four to five times per year, and with more than 48 thousand airframes in the world, the amount of water used each year is immense. As a result, the positives of clean fuselages are outweighed by the negatives of wasteful usage of expensive and environmentally important resources.
This raises a question: whether it is possible to be eco-friendly in the aviation industry when one solution brings even more challenges than benefits? While the answer may look complicated, the definite answer is yes. The use of robots in household applications has proven that robotification is an inevitable and much-needed process to achieve even more efficient operational performance.
One of the solutions to address the inefficient and time-consuming process of washing an aircraft fuselage is to employ an aircraft exterior cleaning robot. The market offerings like Nordic Dino, have been perfected and adapted to work with a wide range of aircraft fuselage types. Such robots are designed to minimize the use of water and detergent on every wash; saving more than 30% more water when compared to traditional washing methods. At the same time, built with sustainability in mind, the robots can be equipped with electric motors, further minimizing the environmental impact.
“Sustainability and eco-friendliness should not be viewed as challenges or impossible achievements in the aviation industry. By utilizing the right equipment, finding alternatives to polluting methods, and increasing efficiency at every step possible, companies could come one step closer to operational efficiency as well as sustainability targets. Our offering, Nordic Dino can reduce the use of water and detergent and can be powered by electricity, reducing carbon and nitrogen dioxide emissions. By the robotification of the cleaning process we present a solution to MROs and dedicated aircraft cleaning companies to become green.” – commented Jan Brunstedt, CEO of Aviator Robotics AB.
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